Sheep Mountain, Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory

This is a painting of the wild and wonderful Kluane Lake, with Sheep Mountain in the background.  (The “sheep” reference refers to the sure footed Dahl Sheep, which were often seen clambering along the cliff face.)

It was on one extremely cold and windy day that artist Tania O’Donnell and I were on that beach, fighting the Yukon elements and attempting to paint.  We finally decided to abandon our gear and head to the main building for a hot coffee and a warmup of our freezing hands.  As we singled-filed our way up the narrow trail, I heard Tania, in front,  through the roar of the wind in the bush, suddenly holler “BEAR”!!!

And there, standing up on hind legs and giving a startled “woof!” was a medium tall cinnamon coloured creature, the closest I ever want to come to a grizzly.

We startled him as much as he startled us. But he was a “good bear”, in that, after his threatening “woof” and rise to this human interference (he was merely enjoying a leisurely breakfast of buffalo berries), he made a very hasty exit through the thick underbrush to the safety of the forest beyond.

It was a fearful experience.  We’d been well warned of the perils involving grizzlies in the Yukon.  And we were aware that the grizzly population in the Yukon equals 1 bear to every 6 to 8 people.  (As of July 1, 2024)